School test cheating probe's impact overstated

Saturday

Sep 29, 2012 at 12:01 AM

ALLENTOWN (AP) — The effect of a cheating probe on the lower test scores reported on Pennsylvania's achievement tests was overstated by the state's education secretary, the head of the committee that examined those scores told a newspaper.

ALLENTOWN (AP) — The effect of a cheating probe on the lower test scores reported on Pennsylvania's achievement tests was overstated by the state's education secretary, the head of the committee that examined those scores told a newspaper.

Pennsylvania Technical Advisory Committee chairwoman Marianne Perie told The Morning Call of Allentown that any discussion of how the probe affected scores was "merely speculation" because the panel had no data to verify such a claim.

In announcing the scores last week, Education Secretary Ron Tomalis said enhanced anti-cheating measures had caused PSSA scores to drop, meaning more than 600 fewer Pennsylvania schools met federal testing standards. Tomalis also said the panel of outside statistical experts had found budget cuts had nothing to do with the lower scores.

Perie said neither of those assertions is entirely true. The panel found scores at schools flagged in the probe had dropped, but that's not proof the security measures led to the statewide decrease, Perie said. She also said the committee did not consider what, if any, impact budget cuts had on scores.

"It's very hard to make a causative statement," Perie told the newspaper.

Educators accused Tomalis and Gov. Tom Corbett of trying to blame the lower statewide scores on a small number of the state's 130,000 teachers instead of deep cuts to state aid.

Tomalis said his department plans to file complaints against more than 100 educators in connection with the cheating investigation.

An Education Department spokesman said tampering in some educational agencies was so widespread it affected the statewide results.

"If you look at the change in scores in the 18 (agencies) that are/were investigated, the drops in scores speak for themselves," spokesman Tim Eller told The Morning Call.

Investigations remain active in six of the state's 500 school districts and three charter schools. Of the 48 school districts and charter schools targeted initially, 30 were cleared of wrongdoing.

Perie said the panel recommended the state look into whether the investigation adversely affected scores by making teachers hesitant to offer students any assistance at all, even if it's permitted under the testing rules.